Display device and method of displaying screen on said display device

ABSTRACT

A method of displaying for allowing a plurality of application windows to be easily controlled and a display device therefor are provided. A method of displaying a screen on a display device includes displaying a button on a touch screen; splitting the touch screen into a plurality of regions based on the position at which the button is displayed, receiving a touch input to move a displayed button, obtaining a slope value of a line connecting a start point of the touch input to an end point thereof, selecting a region corresponding to the slope value from among the plurality of regions split, and moving the button to a certain position included in a selected region.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to methods of displaying screens ondisplay devices and display devices using the methods, and moreparticularly, to methods of displaying at least one applicationexecution screen on display devices and display devices using themethod.

BACKGROUND ART

A desktop computer or a mobile device (e.g., a mobile phone, asmartphone, or a tablet PC) having a touch screen may also include atleast one display device.

In the case of a desktop computer, a user may divide a screen of adisplay device according to work environments. When a web browser isopened, a ‘page up’ button or a ‘page down’ button on a keyboard may beused to move a web page up or down. When a mouse is used instead of thekeyboard, a scroll bar at a side of the web page may be selected byusing a cursor of the mouse to move the web page up or down.

In comparison, a mobile device has a relatively small output screen sizeand input methods thereof are limited. It may be difficult to divide ascreen of the mobile device and use the mobile device.

Also, along with the size reduction of high-performance hardware,various applications may be executed in the mobile device. Basicapplications that are installed in the mobile device by a manufacturerand various applications that are developed by general users may beexecuted in the mobile device.

Although various applications for satisfying user demands are providedin the mobile device, since the mobile device is manufactured to have aportable size, a display size and a user interface (UI) are limited.Therefore, it may be inconvenient for the user to execute a plurality ofapplications in the mobile device. For example, an application executionscreen is displayed on an entire area of a display of the mobile deviceto execute a single application. Afterward, in order to execute anotherapplication, the displayed application has to be closed first, and thenthe other application has to be executed. That is, execution and closingprocesses for each application have to be repeated in the mobile deviceto execute various applications.

Therefore, a technology for displaying a plurality of applicationexecution windows on a display has to be developed. Also, when theplurality of application execution windows are displayed, a userinterface for controlling the plurality of application execution windowsas a user desires is necessary.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Technical Problem

Provided are a method of displaying a screen for easily controlling aplurality of application execution windows when the plurality ofapplication execution windows are displayed on a display in a displaydevice and a display device using the method.

Technical Solution

According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of displaying a screenon a display device including a touch screen includes displaying abutton on the touch screen; splitting the touch screen into a pluralityof regions based on a position of the displayed button; receiving atouch input to move the displayed button; obtaining an inclination valueof a line connecting start and end points of the touch input; selectinga region, from among the plurality of split regions, corresponding tothe inclination value; and moving the displayed button to a certainposition in the selected region.

The obtaining of the inclination value may include obtaining anacceleration value of a movement of the displayed button, and, when theacceleration value is greater than a preset threshold value, obtainingthe inclination value.

The certain position may be included in an edge region of the touchscreen.

The splitting of the touch screen into the plurality of regions mayinclude splitting the touch screen into the plurality of regions basedon lines connecting the position of the displayed button and a pluralityof preset points of an edge region of the touch screen.

The obtaining of the inclination value may include determining acoordinate of the touch input prior to a preset number from the endpoint of the touch input as the start point of the touch input.

According to an aspect of an embodiment, a display device includes atouch screen configured to display a button; and a controller configuredto split the touch screen into a plurality of regions based on aposition where the button is displayed, wherein the touch screenconfigured to receive a touch input to move the displayed button, andwherein the controller configured to obtain an inclination value of aline connecting start and end points of the touch input, select aregion, from among the plurality of split regions, corresponding to theinclination value, and control the touch screen to move and display thebutton to a certain position in the selected region.

The controller may be further configured to obtain an acceleration valueof a movement of the button, and, when the acceleration value is greaterthan a preset threshold value, to control the touch screen to displaythe button at the certain position.

The certain position may be in an edge region of the touch screen.

The controller may be further configured to split the touch screen intothe plurality of regions based on lines connecting the position wherethe button is displayed and a plurality of preset points of an edgeregion of the touch screen.

The controller may be further configured to determine a coordinate ofthe touch input before a preset number from the end point of the touchinput as the start point of the touch input.

According to an aspect of an embodiment, there is a non-transitorycomputer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program,which, when executed by a computer, performs the method.

Advantageous Effects of the Invention

A user interface displaying a screen for easily controlling a pluralityof application execution windows may be provided to a user.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a display device according to anembodiment.

FIGS. 2A through 2E are conceptual diagrams for describing a method ofdisplaying application execution windows, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 3A through 3E are conceptual diagrams for describing a method ofmoving positions of buttons, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process of displaying a button, according toan embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process of recognizing a fling gesture,according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 6A through 6C are conceptual diagrams for describing a method ofdetermining a fling direction, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a simple block diagram of a display device, according to anembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram for describing a method of recognizing afling gesture performed by a display device, according to anotherembodiment.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram for describing a method of recognizing afling gesture performed by a display device, according to anotherembodiment.

FIGS. 10 through 14 are diagrams of a wearable device as an example of adisplay device according to embodiments.

BEST MODE

According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of displaying a screenon a display device comprising a touch screen is provided. The methodincludes displaying a button on the touch screen, splitting the touchscreen into a plurality of regions based on a position of the displayedbutton, receiving a touch input to move the displayed button, obtainingan inclination value of a line connecting start and end points of thetouch input, selecting a region, from among the plurality of splitregions, corresponding to the inclination value, and moving thedisplayed button to a certain position in the selected region.

According to an aspect of another embodiment, a display device isprovided. The display device includes a touch screen configured todisplay a button, and a controller configured to split the touch screeninto a plurality of regions based on a position where the button isdisplayed, wherein the touch screen configured to receive a touch inputto move the displayed button, and wherein the controller configured toobtain an inclination value of a line connecting start and end points ofthe touch input, select a region, from among the plurality of splitregions, corresponding to the inclination value, and control the touchscreen to move and display the button to a certain position in theselected region.

According to an aspect of another embodiment, provided is anon-transitory computer-readable recording medium having recordedthereon a program, which, when executed by a computer, performs themethod described above.

MODE OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments will now be described more fully with referenceto the accompanying drawings so that this disclosure will be thoroughand complete, and will fully convey the embodiments to one of ordinaryskill in the art. The embodiments may, however, be embodied in manydifferent forms and should not be construed as being limited to theembodiments set forth herein. Features that are unnecessary for clearlydescribing the embodiments are not included in the drawings. Also,throughout the specification, like reference numerals in the drawingsdenote like elements.

Throughout the specification, it will also be understood that when anelement is referred to as being “connected to” another element, it canbe directly connected to the other element, or electrically connected tothe other element while intervening elements may also be present. Also,when a portion “includes” an element, another element may be furtherincluded, rather than excluding the existence of the other element,unless otherwise described. As used herein, the term “and/or” includesany and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.

In the present specification, the term “touch” or “touch input” mayindicate not only a direct physical contact with a display device, butalso input of information when the display device detects approach of abody's part (e.g., a finger) of a user.

Hereinafter, the embodiments will be described in detail with referenceto the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a display device 100 according to anembodiment. FIG. 1 merely illustrates a display device according to anembodiment. A display device according to the embodiments may includemore or less components than those illustrated in FIG. 1.

The display device 100 may be connected to an external device (notshown) by using a mobile communication module 120, a sub-communicationmodule 130, and a connector 165. The external device may include atleast one selected from another device (not shown), a cellular phone(not shown), a smartphone (not shown), a tablet PC (not shown), and aserver (not shown).

Referring to FIG. 1, the display device 100 may include a touch screen190 and a touch screen controller 195. Also, the display device 100 mayinclude a controller 110, the mobile communication module 120, thesub-communication module 130, a multimedia module 140, a camera module150, a GPS module 155, an input/output (I/O) module 160, a sensor module170, a storage 175, and a power supplier 180. The sub-communicationmodule 130 may include at least one selected from a wireless LAN module131 and a short distance communication module 132, and the multimediamodule 140 may include at least one selected from a broadcastingcommunication module 141, an audio reproduction module 142, and a videoreproduction module 143. The camera module 150 may include at least oneselected from a first camera 151 and a second camera 152, and the I/Omodule 160 may include at least one selected from a button 161, amicrophone 162, a speaker 163, a vibration motor 164, the connector 165,and a keypad 166.

The controller 110 may include a central processing unit (CPU) 111, aROM 112 that stores a control program for controlling the display device100, and a RAM 113 that stores signals or data that is input from theoutside of the display device 100 or is used as a memory space foroperations performed by the display device 100. The CPU 111 may includea plurality of processors, such as a single-core processor, a dual-coreprocessor, a triple-core processor, or a quad-core processor. The CPU111, the ROM 112, and the RAM 113 may be connected to each other via aninternal bus.

The controller 110 may control the mobile communication module 120, thesub-communication module 130, the multimedia module 140, the cameramodule 150, the GPS module 155, the I/O module 160, the sensor module170, the storage 175, the power supplier 180, the touch screen 190, andthe touch screen controller 195.

Under the control of the controller 110, the mobile communication module120 may connect the display device 100 to an external device via mobilecommunication by using at least one (one or a plurality of) antenna (notshown). The mobile communication module 120 may transmit/receivewireless signals for voice calls, video calls, and transmissions ofshort messages (SMS) or multimedia messages (MMS) with a cellular phone(not shown) of which a contact number is input to the display device100, a smartphone (not shown), a tablet PC (not shown), or other devices(not shown).

The sub-communication module 130 may include at least one selected fromthe wireless LAN module 131 and the short distance communication module132. For example, only the wireless LAN module 131, only the shortdistance communication module 132, or both of the wireless LAN module131 and the short distance communication module 132 may be included.

The wireless LAN module 131 may be controlled by the controller 110 suchthat the wireless LAN module 131 is connected with the Internet at aplace where a wireless access point (AP) (not shown) is provided. Thewireless LAN module 131 may support the wireless LAN standard IEEE802.11x of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE).The short distance communication module 132 may be controlled by thecontroller 110 such that the short distance communication module 132performs a short distance wireless communication between the displaydevice 100 and an imaging apparatus (not shown). Examples of shortdistance wireless communication techniques may include Bluetooth,Infrared Data Association (IrDA), and ZigBee.

Based on performance, the display device 100 may include at least oneselected from the mobile communication module 120, the wireless LANmodule 131, and the short distance communication module 132.

The multimedia module 140 may include the broadcasting communicationmodule 141, the audio reproduction module 142, or the video reproductionmodule 143. The broadcasting communication module 141 may be controlledby the controller 110 and receive broadcasting signals (e.g., TVbroadcasting signals, radio broadcasting signals, or data broadcastingsignals) and additional broadcasting information (e.g., an electricprogram guide (EPG) or an electric service guide (ESG)) transmitted frombroadcasting stations via a broadcasting communication antenna (notshown). The audio reproduction module 142 may be controlled by thecontroller 110 and reproduce stored or received digital audio files. Thevideo reproduction module 143 may be controlled by the controller 110and reproduce stored or received digital video files. The videoreproduction module 143 may reproduce digital audio files.

The multimedia module 140 may include the audio reproduction module 142and the video reproduction module 143, and not include the broadcastingcommunication module 141. Alternatively, the audio reproduction module142 or the video reproduction module 143 of the multimedia module 140may be included in the controller 110.

The camera module 150 may include at least one selected from the firstcamera 151 and the second camera 152 which capture a still image or avideo under the control of the controller 110. Also, the first camera151 or the second camera 152 may include an auxiliary light source (notshown) that provides an amount of light that is necessary forphotography. The first camera 151 may be located at a front side of thedisplay device 100, and the second camera 152 may be located at a backside of the display device 100. Alternatively, the first camera 151 andthe second camera 152 may be adjacently (e.g., a distance greater than 1cm but smaller than 8 cm) located and capture a 3-dimensional (3D) stillimage or a 3D video.

The GPS module 155 may receive radio waves from a plurality of GPSsatellites (not shown) in the Earth's orbit, and estimate a location ofthe display device 100 by using a time of arrival of the radio wavesfrom the GPS satellites to the display device 100.

The I/O module 160 may include at least one selected from a plurality ofbuttons 161, the microphone 162, the speaker 163, the vibration motor164, the connector 165, and the keypad 166.

The button 161 may be formed at a front surface, a side surface, or aback surface of a housing of the display device 100, and may include atleast one selected from a power/lock button (not shown), a volume button(not shown), a menu button, a home button, a back button, and a searchbutton.

The microphone 162 may be controlled by the controller 110 and receivevoice or sound and generate electric signals.

The speaker 163 may be controlled by the controller 110 and outputsounds that correspond to various signals of the mobile communicationmodule 120, the sub-communication module 130, the multimedia module 140,or the camera module 150 to the outside of the display device 100. Thespeaker 163 may output sounds that correspond to functions of thedisplay device 100. The speaker 163 may be formed of one or a pluralityof speakers at an appropriate location or appropriate locations on thehousing of the display device 100.

The vibration motor 164 may be controlled by the controller 110 andconvert electric signals to mechanical vibrations. For example, when thedisplay device 100 receives a voice call from another device (not shown)in a vibration mode, the vibration motor 164 may operate. The vibrationmotor 164 may operate in response to a touch operation of a user thatcontacts the touch screen 190 and consecutive movements of a touch inputon the touch screen 190.

The connector 165 may be used as an interface for connecting the displaydevice 100 and an external device (not shown) or a power source (notshown). Under the control of the controller 110, data stored in thestorage 175 of the display device 100 may be transmitted to the externaldevice (not shown) or data may be received from the external device (notshown) via a cable connected to the connector 165. Power may be inputfrom the power source (not shown) or a battery (not shown) may becharged via the cable connected to the connector 165.

The keypad 166 may receive a key input from the user to control thedisplay device 100. The keypad 166 includes a physical keypad (notshown) that is formed on the display device 100 or a virtual keypad (notshown) that is displayed on the touch screen 190. The physical keypad(not shown) formed on the display device 100 may be omitted depending onthe performance or a structure of the display device 100.

The sensor module 170 includes at least one sensor that detects statusof the display device 100. For example, the sensor module 170 mayinclude a proximity sensor (not shown) that detects whether the user isnear the display device 100, an illuminator sensor (not shown) thatdetects an amount of light around the display device 100, or a motionsensor (not shown) that detects motions (e.g., rotations of the displaydevice 100, or acceleration or vibration applied to the display device100) of the display device 100. The sensors of the sensor module 170 maybe added or removed according to the performance of the display device100.

The storage 175 may be controlled by the controller 110 and storesignals or data that are input/output with respect to operations of themobile communication module 120, the sub-communication module 130, themultimedia module 140, the camera module 150, the GPS module 155, theI/O module 160, the sensor module 170, and the touch screen 190. Thestorage 175 may store a control program for controlling the displaydevice 100 or the controller 110, and applications.

The term “storage” may include the storage 175, the ROM 112 and the RAM113 in the controller 110, or a memory card (not shown) inserted intothe display device 100. The storage may include a non-volatile memory, avolatile memory, a hard disk drive (HDD), or a solid state drive (SSD).

The power supplier 180 may be controlled by the controller 110 andsupply power to at least one battery (not shown) that is located in thehousing of the display device 100. Also, the power supplier 180 maysupply power that is input from an external power source (not shown) tocomponents in the display device 100 via the cable connected to theconnector 165.

The touch screen 190 may output user interfaces that correspond tovarious services to the user. The touch screen 190 may transmit analogsignals, which correspond to at least one touch that is input to a userinterface, to the touch screen controller 195. The touch screen 190 mayreceive at least one touch input via the body (e.g., a finger) of theuser or a touch input tool (e.g., a stylus pen). Also, the touch screen190 may receive consecutive motions of the at least one touch input. Thetouch screen 190 may transmit analog signals that correspond to theconsecutive motions of the touch input to the touch screen controller195.

A touch input according to the embodiments is not limited to an inputthat transmitted when the body of the user or a touch input toolcontacts the touch screen 190, and may include a non-contact input(e.g., a distance between the touch screen 190 and the body is 1 mm orless). A distance that may be detected on the touch screen 190 may varyaccording to the performance or the structure of the display device 100.

The touch screen 190 may be, for example, a resistive type, a capacitivetype, an infrared type, or an ultrasound wave type, but is not limitedthereto.

The touch screen controller 195 may convert the analog signals receivedfrom the touch screen 190 into digital signals (e.g., X-coordinates andY-coordinates) and transmit the digital signals to the controller 110.The controller 110 may control the touch screen 190 by using the digitalsignals from the touch screen controller 195. For example, thecontroller 110 may select an application execution icon (not shown)displayed on the touch screen 190 or execute an application in responseto a touch input. The touch screen controller 195 may be included in thetouch screen 190 or the controller 110.

FIGS. 2A through 2E are conceptual diagrams for describing a method ofdisplaying application execution windows, according to an embodiment. Adisplay device 200 may be formed as not only a mobile device describedwith reference to FIG. 1, but also a TV or a medical data displayapparatus.

As shown in FIG. 2A, the display device 200 may set a plurality ofregions (201 to 204) on a touch screen. For convenience of description,in the present specification, the regions set by the display device 200are indicated as a first region 201, a second region 202, a third region203, and a fourth region 204. Also, a region formed by combining thefirst and third regions 201 and 203 is indicated as a fifth region (notshown). A region formed by combining the second and fourth regions 202and 204 is indicated as a sixth region (not shown). A region formed bycombining the first and second regions 201 and 202 is indicated as aseventh region. A region formed by combining the third and fourthregions 203 and 204 is indicated as an eighth region. A combination ofthe first to fourth regions 201 to 204, i.e., a full screen, isindicated as an F region. A controller (not shown) may set a firstboundary line 211 that divides the first and second regions 201 and 202,a second boundary line 212 that divides the third and fourth regions 203and 204, a third boundary line 213 that divides the first and thirdregions 201 and 203, and a fourth boundary line 214 that divides thesecond and fourth regions 202 and 204. The first and second boundarylines 211 and 212 may form a single line. The third and fourth boundarylines 213 and 214 may form a single line. The first to fourth boundarylines 211 to 214 do not have to be always displayed, but may be linesthat are virtually set on the display device 200. The controller (notshown) may set the first to fourth regions 201 to 204 such that thefirst to fourth regions 201 to 204 do not overlap each other. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 2A, the controller (not shown) may set thefirst region 201 at an upper left end. The controller (not shown) mayset the second region 202 at an upper right end. The controller (notshown) may set the third region 203 at a lower left end. The controller(not shown) may set the fourth region 204 at a lower right end. Thecontroller (not shown) may set the first and second boundary lines 211and 212 such that a screen is vertically divided. The controller (notshown) may set the third and fourth boundary lines 213 and 214 such thatthe screen is horizontally divided.

Also, the touch screen may display a button 210 at a point where thefirst to fourth boundary lines 211 to 214 meet. The button 210 may be afunction key for changing a size of a region displaying an applicationexecution window or entering an operation mode of controlling theexecution window.

The controller (not shown) may control the touch screen such that anapplication execution window is displayed on each region. For example,the controller (not shown) may control the touch screen such that anapplication execution window is displayed on each of the plurality ofregions (201 to 204) as shown in FIGS. 2B to 2K.

In the present specification, an application execution window indicatesa window that displays an application execution screen. That is, an“execution window” may indicate a type of a frame that displays anexecution screen of a corresponding application. Objects related to anapplication may be displayed on an execution screen of the application.The objects may include text, figures, icons, buttons, check boxes,images, videos, the web, or a map. When a user touches an object, afunction or an event that is preset to the object may be performed. Theobject may be referred to as ‘view’ according to operating systems. Forexample, at least one button, from among a capture button for capturingthe execution window, a minimize button for minimizing the executionwindow, a full screen button for maximizing the execution window, and aclose button for closing the execution window, may be displayed forcontrolling the display of an execution window.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the controller (not shown) may set an edge region220 with respect to the touch screen of the display device 200. In thepresent specification, the edge region 220 may mean a region within acertain distance from an edge of the touch screen.

The touch screen may receive a touch input moving a button 210 displayedon the touch screen of the display device 200 from a user 1. Forexample, the touch input dragging the button 210 is recognized from theuser 1, and thus the display device 200 may change a position of thebutton 210 to a position at which the touch input is recognized.

Based on the position of the button 210, the controller (not shown) mayreset and display the regions 201 through 204 and the boundary lines 211through 214 that display application execution windows.

In this regard, as shown in FIG. 2C, when the button 210 is positionedin the edge region 220, the display device 200 may not display regionsdisplaying some application execution windows on the touch screen. Thatis, among the regions 201 through 204 shown in FIG. 2B, the region 201displaying an execution window of an A application and the region 203displaying an execution window of a D application. The display device200 may split a screen based on the boundary line 214. The displaydevice 200 may display an execution window 202 of a B application and anexecution window 204 of a C application on the split screens.

According to an embodiment, when a fling gesture is recognized through atouch screen, the display device 200 may move the button 210 to the edgeregion 220 along a direction of the fling gesture. In the presentspecification, the fling gesture is an input to move a point where auser contacts a touch screen with an acceleration greater than a presetthreshold value. The fling gesture may include information regarding adirection. For example, the controller (not shown) may determine adirection from a start point of a touch input constituting the flinggesture to an end point of the touch input as the direction of the flinggesture. When the fling gesture has a left direction, the display device200 may display the button 210 on a left edge of the touch screen asshown in FIG. 2C. The display device 200 may split a screen based on theposition of the button 210 and display an execution window of anapplication on each of the split screens.

The button 210 may move not only up and down left and right but also, asshown in FIG. 2D, in an arbitrary direction. When the fling gesture hasa direction corresponding to a left upper corner of the touch screen,the display device 200 may display the button 210 on the left uppercorner of the touch screen as shown in FIG. 2C. In this regard, thedisplay device 200 may display the execution window 204 of the Capplication on an entire region of the touch screen.

FIGS. 3A through 3E are conceptual diagrams for describing a method ofmoving positions of buttons, according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 3A, a display device 300 may display a button 310 on atouch screen. A controller (not shown) included in the display device300 may display execution windows of a plurality of applications asshown in FIGS. 2A through 2E based on a position of the button 310.

The controller (not shown) may split the touch screen into a pluralityof regions 341 through 348 based on a position displaying the button310, separately from a region displaying an execution window of anapplication.

According to an embodiment, the touch screen may be split into theplurality of regions 341 through 348 by lines connecting a plurality ofpreset points in an edge region of the touch screen from the positiondisplaying the button 310.

Referring to FIG. 3B, when a button movement acceleration value isgreater than a preset threshold value by a fling gesture input to thetouch screen, the controller (not shown) included in the display device300 may obtain an inclination value of the fling gesture. Theinclination value of the fling gesture may mean an inclination value ofa line connecting start and end points of a touch input. The controller(not shown) may determine a direction 330 of the fling gesture based onthe obtained inclination value.

Thereafter, the controller (not shown) may control the touch screen tomove the button 310 to one of certain positions 351 through 358 based onthe direction 330 of the fling gesture. According to an embodiment, thecertain positions 351 through 358 may be included in an edge region (notshown). The certain positions 351 through 358 may include the positions351 and 355 corresponding to x axial coordinates on the touch screendisplaying the button 310, the positions 353 and 357 corresponding to yaxis coordinates on the touch screen displaying the button 310, and thepositions 352, 354, 356, and 358 corresponding to corners of the touchscreen in the edge region (not shown). The x and y axes may be differentaccording to embodiments.

The controller (not shown) may split a position of the button 310 andthe touch screen into a plurality of regions 341 through 348 based onthe position of the button 310. According to an embodiment, thecontroller (not shown) may split the touch screen into the plurality ofregions 341 through 348 based on the certain positions 351 through 358determined according to the position of the button 310 in the edgeregion of the touch screen from the position displaying the button 310.That is, the touch screen may be split based on a boundary line betweena middle point of the first point 351 and the second point 352 and apoint displaying the button 310. The touch screen may also be splitbased on as a boundary line between a middle point of the second point352 and the third point 353 and the point displaying the button 310. Thetouch screen may also be split based on as a boundary line between amiddle point of the third point 353 and the fourth point 354 and thepoint displaying the button 310. The touch screen may also be splitbased on as a boundary line between a middle point of the fourth point354 and the fifth point 355 and the point displaying the button 310. Thetouch screen may also be split based on as a boundary line between amiddle point of the fifth point 355 and the sixth point 356 and thepoint displaying the button 310. The touch screen may be also splitbased on as a boundary line between a middle point of the sixth point356 and the seventh point 357 and the point displaying the button 310.The touch screen may also be split based on as a boundary line between amiddle point of the seventh point 357 and the eighth point 358 and thepoint displaying the button 310. The touch screen may be also splitbased on as a boundary line between a middle point of the eighth point358 and the first point 351 and the point displaying the button 310.

The regions 341 through 348 illustrated in FIGS. 3A through 3E areexamples for describing the embodiments. The controller (not shown) maysplit the touch screen by using different methods according toembodiments. For example, as shown in FIG. 3A, the controller (notshown) may split the touch screen into a greater or smaller number ofregions than 8 regions.

The fling gesture may be input, and thus the controller (not shown) mayobtain an inclination value of a line connecting start and end points ofthe fling gesture. That is, the controller (not shown) may obtain theinclination value from a difference between an x coordinate and a ycoordinate between the start and end points of the fling gesture. In thepresent specification, the inclination value may be referred to as aninclination value of the touch input or the inclination value of thefling gesture.

Thereafter, the controller (not shown) may select a region correspondingto the inclination value from among the split regions 341 through 348.In FIG. 3B, the controller (not shown) may select the region 346including the direction 330 of the fling gesture. Thereafter, as shownin FIG. 3C, the controller (not shown) may move the button 310 to thecertain position 356 included in the selected region 346. The controller(not shown) may control the touch screen to display the button 310 onthe position 356. In FIG. 3D, the controller (not shown) may select theregion 347 including a direction 331 of the fling gesture. Thereafter,as shown in FIG. 3E, the controller (not shown) may move the button 310to the certain position 357 included in the selected region 347. Thecontroller (not shown) may control the touch screen to display thebutton 310 on the position 357.

The display device 300 may move the button 310 to one of the certainpositions 351 though 358 included in the edge region, and thus may notdisplay some of the execution windows 201 through 204 of theapplications shown in FIG. 2A. Accordingly, the display device 300 mayenlarge and display some of the execution windows 201 through 204 of theapplications shown in FIG. 2A.

The controller (not shown) may track positions of touches that arecontinuously input on the touch screen or the position of the button310. The positions of touches that are continuously input on the touchscreen or the position of the button 310 may move, and thus thecontroller (not shown) may obtain an acceleration value. Thereafter,when the obtained acceleration value is greater than a preset thresholdvalue, the controller (not shown) may determine that the touch inputreceived through the touch screen is the fling gesture. For example,when a user drags the button 310, if a coordinate of the button 310starts moving by 50 pixels or more per second, the controller (notshown) may determine that the received touch input is the fling gesture.When the received touch input is determined to be the fling gesture, thecontroller (not shown) may obtain the inclination value of the flinggesture and move the button 310 to a certain position. For convenienceof description, the term acceleration has been used to describe thepresent specification. However, a displacement, a vector, etc. may alsobe used instead of the acceleration according to embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process of displaying a button, according toan embodiment.

A display device may display a button on a touch screen (operation S410)and may split the touch screen into a plurality of regions based on aposition of the displayed button (operation S420).

Thereafter, the display device may receive a touch input to move thebutton through the touch screen (operation S430). In this regard, thetouch input to move the button may be a drag gesture to change aposition where a touch is recognized from a position displaying thebutton while touch recognition is maintained.

Thereafter, the display device may obtain an inclination value of thetouch input (operation S440). The display device may select a regioncorresponding to the inclination value obtained in operation S440 amongthe regions split in operation S420 (operation S450).

Thereafter, the display device may move the button to a preset positionincluded in the region selected in operation S450 (operation S460).

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a process of recognizing a fling gesture,according to an embodiment.

In operation S440 of FIG. 4, the display device may obtain a buttonmovement acceleration value (operation S510). According to anembodiment, the button movement acceleration value may be obtained as anacceleration value by calculating a coordinate value of a touch input(operation S510).

Thereafter, the display device may determine whether the accelerationvalue is greater than a preset threshold value (operation S520). Whenthe acceleration value is greater than the preset threshold value, thedisplay device may determine that the touch input is the fling gesture.When the acceleration value is greater than the preset threshold value,the display device may obtain an inclination value (i.e. an inclinationvalue of the fling gesture) of the touch input in the same manner as inoperation S440 through S460. The display device may move the buttonbased on the inclination value.

FIGS. 6A through 6C are conceptual diagrams for describing a method ofdetermining a fling direction, according to an embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 6A, a display device 600 may obtain an inclinationvalue of a fling gesture from start and end points of a touch input 610that is input by a user 10 on a touch screen. The inclination value ofthe fling gesture may indicate a direction 630-1 of the fling gesturerecognized by the display device 600.

However, in this case, there may be a big difference in a direction thatis to be finally input by the user 10 and a direction of the flinggesture obtained by the display device 600.

Therefore, according to an embodiment, the display device 600 maydetermine a coordinate of the touch input 610 prior to a preset numberfrom an end point pk of the touch input 610 as the start point of thetouch input 610.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the touch input 610 may include k coordinates p1through pk received through the touch screen. A controller (not shown)included in the display device 600 may determine a coordinate pk-n ofthe touch input 610 prior to a preset number (n in FIG. 6B) from the endpoint pk of the touch input 610 as the start point of the touch input610.

Referring to FIG. 6C, the coordinate pk-n of the touch input 610 priorto a preset number from the end point pk of the touch input 610 may bedetermined as the start point of the touch input 610, and thus thedisplay device 600 may obtain the direction of the fling gesture inaccordance with a user's intention.

FIG. 7 is a simple block diagram of a display device 700, according toan embodiment.

The display device 700 according to an embodiment may include a touchscreen 710 displaying a button and a controller 720 splitting the touchscreen 710 into a plurality of regions.

In this regard, the touch screen 710 may receive a touch input to movethe displayed button. The controller 720 may obtain an inclination valueof a line connecting start and end points of the touch input based onthe touch input. The controller 720 may select a region corresponding tothe inclination value from among the plurality of split regions. Thecontroller 720 may control the touch screen 710 to display the button bymoving the button to a certain position included in the selected region.

According to an embodiment, the controller 720 may obtain a movementacceleration value of the button displayed on the touch screen 710. Whenthe acceleration value is greater than a preset threshold value, thecontroller 720 may control the touch screen 710 to display the button onthe certain position. In this regard, the certain position may beincluded in an edge region of the touch screen 710.

According to another embodiment, the controller 720 may split the touchscreen 710 into a plurality of regions by using lines connecting theposition displaying the button and a plurality of preset points of theedge region of the touch screen 710.

According to another embodiment, the controller 720 may determine acoordinate of the touch input prior to a preset number from the endpoint of the touch input as the start point of the touch input.

The display device 700 may include touch screens of various shapesaccording to embodiments. For example, the display device 700 mayinclude a touch screen having an n angular shape (n is an integer equalto or greater than 3). According to some embodiments, the display device700 may split the touch screen 710 into 2*n regions with respect to theposition of the button and move the position of the button along adirection of a fling gesture.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram for describing a method of recognizing afling gesture performed by a display device 800, according to anotherembodiment. In more detail, FIG. 8 illustrates the method of recognizingthe fling gesture performed by the display device 800 when the displaydevice 800 includes a pentagonal touch screen 800.

When the display device 800 includes the pentagonal touch screen 800,the display device 800 may split the touch screen 800 into 10 regions820-1, 820-2, 820-3, 820-4, 820-5, 820-6, 820-7, 820-8, 820-9, and820-10. If the fling gesture is input with respect to a button 810, thedisplay device 800 may determine a direction 830 of the fling gesture inrelation to the button 810. If the direction 830 of the fling gesture isdetermined, the display device 800 may move a position of the button 810according to a region including the determined direction 830 of thefling gesture among the 10 regions 820-1, 820-2, 820-3, 820-4, 820-5,820-6, 820-7, 820-8, 820-9, and 820-10. For example, referring to FIG.8, when the direction 830 of the fling gesture is included in the region820-2, the display device 800 may move the position of the button 810 toa point 842-1.

Likewise, referring to FIG. 8, when the direction 830 of the flinggesture is included in the region 820-1, the display device 800 may movethe position of the button 810 to a point 841-1. When the direction 830of the fling gesture is included in the region 820-2, the display device800 may move the position of the button 810 to a point 842-1. When thedirection 830 of the fling gesture is included in the region 820-3, thedisplay device 800 may move the position of the button 810 to a point841-2. When the direction 830 of the fling gesture is included in theregion 820-4, the display device 800 may move the position of the button810 to a point 842-2. When the direction 830 of the fling gesture isincluded in the region 820-5, the display device 800 may move theposition of the button 810 to a point 841-3. When the direction 830 ofthe fling gesture is included in the region 820-6, the display device800 may move the position of the button 810 to a point 842-3. When thedirection 830 of the fling gesture is included in the region 820-7, thedisplay device 800 may move the position of the button 810 to a point841-4. When the direction 830 of the fling gesture is included in theregion 820-8, the display device 800 may move the position of the button810 to a point 842-4. When the direction 830 of the fling gesture isincluded in the region 820-9, the display device 800 may move theposition of the button 810 to a point 841-5. When the direction 830 ofthe fling gesture is included in the region 820-10, the display device800 may move the position of the button 810 to a point 842-5. FIG. 8 isused to describe some embodiments. The number of regions split on thetouch screen 800 and positions of the points 841-1 through 841-5 and842-1 through 842-5 the button 810 moves may change according toembodiments.

FIG. 9 is a conceptual diagram for describing a method of recognizing afling gesture performed by a display device, according to anotherembodiment. In more detail, FIG. 9 is a diagram for describing themethod of recognizing the fling gesture performed by the display devicewhen the display device includes a circular touch screen 900.

When the fling gesture is recognized in relation to a position of abutton 910, the display device may determine a direction 930 of thefling gesture. The display device may determine a point 940 outside thedisplay device based on a line 920 extending from the position of thebutton 910 in the direction 930 of the fling gesture. The display devicemay move the position of the button 910 to the determined point 940.However, FIG. 9 is used to describe some embodiments and is not limitedthereto.

FIGS. 10 through 14 are exemplary diagrams of embodiments in which adisplay device is a wearable device. In particular, FIGS. 10 through 12are exemplary diagrams of operations of a display device 1000 includinga circular touch screen.

As shown in FIG. 10, the display device 1000 may display a button 1010on the touch screen. The display device 1000 may display a userinterface or an application execution window, etc. on split regions onthe touch screen in relation to the button 1010.

As shown in FIG. 11, the user 1 may input a fling gesture with respectto the button 1010 through the touch screen of the display device 1000.If the fling gesture is input, the display device 1000 may determine apoint 1040 outside the display device based on a line 1020 extending ina direction 1030 of the fling gesture.

Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 12, the display device 1000 may move theposition of the button 1010 to the point 1040 of FIG. 11. The displaydevice 1000 may split the touch screen into regions based on theposition of the button 1010 and display the user interface or theapplication execution window, etc. on the split regions.

FIGS. 13 and 14 are exemplary diagrams of operations of a display device1300 including a rectangular touch screen.

As shown in FIG. 13, the display device 1300 may include the rectangulartouch screen. The display device 1300 may display a button 1310 on thetouch screen. The display device 1300 may display a user interface or anapplication execution window, etc. on split regions on the touch screenin relation to the button 1310.

If a fling gesture is input from the user 1, as shown in FIG. 14, thedisplay device 1300 may move a position of the button 1310 based on adirection of the fling gesture. The display device 1300 may display theuser interface or the application execution window, etc. on an entireregion of the touch screen based on the position of the button 1310 ormay display the user interface or the application execution window, etc.on the split regions on the touch screen.

As described above, according to the embodiments, a display device mayprovide a user with a user interface for easily adjusting regionsdisplaying execution windows of a plurality of applications according toa user's intention.

One or more embodiments may be implemented through computer-readablecode/instructions, such as a computer-executed program module, storedin/on a medium, e.g., a non-transitory computer-readable medium. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium may be a randomcomputer-accessible medium, and may include volatile media, non-volatilemedia, separable media and/or non-separable media. Also, thecomputer-readable medium may correspond to any computer storage mediaand communication media. The computer storage media includes volatilemedia, non-volatile media, separable media and/or non-separable mediawhich are implemented by using a method or technology for storinginformation, such as computer-readable code/instructions, datastructures, program modules, or other data. The communication mediagenerally includes computer-readable code/instructions, data structures,program modules, or other data of modulated data signals such as carrierwaves, or other transmission mechanisms, and random informationtransmission media. Examples of the computer storage media include ROMs,RAMs, flash memories, CDs, DVDs, magnetic disks, or magnetic tapes.According to an embodiment, a program may be recorded in a computerstorage medium, the program which is for executing displaying a buttonon a touch screen, splitting the touch screen into a plurality ofregions based on a position displaying the button, receiving a touchinput to move the displayed button, obtaining an inclination value of aline connecting start and end points of the touch input, selecting aregion corresponding to the inclination value from among the pluralityof split regions, and moving the button to a certain position includedin the selected region.

It should be understood that embodiments described herein should beconsidered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each embodimentshould typically be considered as available for other similar featuresor aspects in other embodiments.

While one or more embodiments have been described with reference to thefigures, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the artthat various changes in form and details may be made therein withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope as defined by the following claims.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method of displaying a screen on adisplay device comprising a touch screen, the method comprising:displaying a button on the touch screen, the button being a referencefor a boundary of a plurality of application execution windows; defininga plurality of split regions based on the displayed button, each of theplurality of split regions including a predetermined button positionpoint, wherein the plurality of split regions are distinguished from theplurality of application execution windows; receiving a touch input tomove the displayed button; determining a slope of a line connectingstart and end points of the touch input in response to receiving thetouch input; selecting a region, from among the plurality of definedsplit regions, based on the slope; and displaying the button at thepredetermined button position point of the selected region.
 2. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising: obtaining an acceleration valueassociated with the touch input, wherein the determining of the slopecomprises determining the slope when the acceleration value is greaterthan a preset threshold value.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein thepredetermined button position point of each of the plurality of splitregions is included in an edge region of the touch screen.
 4. The methodof claim 1, wherein the defining of the plurality of split regionscomprises: defining boundary lines associated with at least one of theplurality of split regions based on a position of the button and alocation of the predetermined button position point associated with atleast one of the plurality of defined split regions.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the determining of the slope further comprises:determining a coordinate of the touch input prior to a preset number ofcoordinate values from the end point of the touch input, and identifyingthe coordinate of the touch input prior to a preset number of coordinatevalues from the end point as the start point of the touch input.
 6. Adisplay device comprising: a touch screen; and at least one processorconfigured to: display a button on the touch screen, the button being areference for a boundary of a plurality of application executionwindows, define a plurality of split regions based on the displayedbutton, each of the plurality of split regions including a predeterminedbutton position point, wherein the plurality of split regions aredistinguished from the plurality of application execution windows,receive a touch input to move the displayed button, determine a slope ofa line connecting start and end points of the touch input in response toreceiving the touch input, select a region, from among the plurality ofdefined split regions, based on the slope, and control the touch screento display the button at the predetermined button position point of theselected region.
 7. The display device of claim 6, wherein the at leastone processor is further configured to obtain an acceleration valueassociated with the touch input, and, when the acceleration value isgreater than a preset threshold value, to control the touch screen todisplay the button at the predetermined button position point.
 8. Thedisplay device of claim 6, wherein the predetermined button positionpoint of each of the plurality of split regions is in an edge region ofthe touch screen.
 9. The display device of claim 6, wherein the definingof the plurality of split regions comprises: defining boundary linesassociated with at least one of the plurality of split regions based ona position of the button and a location of the predetermined buttonposition point associated with at least one of the plurality of definedsplit regions.
 10. The display device of claim 6, wherein the at leastone processor is further configured to: determine a coordinate of thetouch input before a preset number of coordinate values from the endpoint of the touch input, and identify the coordinate of the touch inputprior to a preset number of coordinate values from the end point as thestart point of the touch input.
 11. A non-transitory computer-readablerecording medium configured to store one or more computer programsincluding instructions that, when executed by at least one processor,cause the at least one processor to control for: displaying a button onthe touch screen, the button being a reference for a boundary of aplurality of application execution windows; defining a plurality ofsplit regions based on the displayed button, each of the plurality ofsplit regions including a predetermined button position point whereinthe plurality of split regions are distinguished from the plurality ofapplication execution windows; receiving a touch input to move thedisplayed button; determining a slope of a line connecting start and endpoints of the touch input in response to receiving the touch input;selecting a region, from among a plurality of split regions, based onthe slope; and displaying the button at the predetermined buttonposition point of the selected region.